Is it Game Over for Sony's PSP?

The Playstation Portable handheld gaming system was first released in the United States on March 24, 2005, after being released in Japan the previous December. More importantly, the PSP found its way into my hands on December 25, 2007, in its second form, the PSP Slim/Lite. The ReelGamers editor quickly invested days into the internet, scouring for the greatest homebrew software that would enhance his portable system without corrupting and reducing it to its useless "brick" form. Half a year later, his PSP now acts as my GPS, a tutor in three different languages (French, Italian, German), a soon-to-be cell phone replacement (the wonders of Skype are highly underrated), and a digital photo album; not to mention a port of PC's SCUMMVM, allowing him to relive all his Monkey Island fan service memories.

More surprising than the device's versatility, was the fact that he seemed to be the only one in his city to have one. Sure, on a rare occasion he would spot another user on the bus and be struck with an immediate sense of brotherhood, but for every PSP packed into a student's backpack or stuffed against a row of textbooks atop a dorm headboard, there were ten DS's of various color schemes floating around. The idea of the Playstation Portable just doesn't seem to appeal to the core markets in which it is supposed to be competing, and it seems destined to be just the latest contender to fall beneath Nintendo's foot, despite its obvious advantages.

[Imallvol7]

I am not so sure I buy into this. Wasn't the PSP extremely hard to find all Christmas? Doesn't it still sell really well? I though it was doing a bang up job in Japan with monster hunter. I am not a portable fan, but I don't see how that constitutes failure or that it needs to pick up sales. You just can't compare ANYTHING to DS.

[lodossrage]

The psp is far from a failure. But the media constantly puts its sales in comparison to the DS. So they make it LOOK like the psp is a failure.

It doesn't sell as strong as the DS. HOWEVER, it is NO failure by any means

[deeznuts]

People other than young girls and really young kids play DS' in public?

How embarrassing.

[Fragking28]

No they like to consider it a failure because of the lack of fun games tailor-made for the psp theres only a hand full and the rest ps2 to psp conversions none of which have the fun factor of the ds titles. I own both a psp and ds( bought it two weeks ago) and i must say the two i've spent with the ds has been by far more enjyable than the 3 to 5 months i've spent on my psp. ( besides madden 08 and that street fighter game)

[Maddens Raiders]

you can always count on finding a dumbass article on the frontpage. All the cool kids play the PSP & PS3. Period; end of story.

[SiLeNt KNighT]

they have a point. when units start selling more than they have ever before... oh wait, they dont have a point...

[Armyless]

The PSP is not dead, and neither is it's prospects for future groawth.

Welcome back Madden! (You haven't missed much)

Edit: I love this guy's reasoning. He didn't see any other students carrying around a PSP so it's a dead format.

[Dannagar]

Well, I myself am ready for a PSP2.

[Andronix]

Look. The DS has been a phenomenal sales success. The PSP is compared unfavourably.
However it has sold more units then the xbox 360 & playstation 3 combined!
It has been the no.1 selling console in Japan for the last few weeks.
Yes it could do with more great games. But I dont see how anyone can say its not a success.

[KingME]

Although I agree that this article is whack, how can you say the PSP is being compared unfavorably and then turn around and compare it to the PS3 and the 360?

[Milky]

If they brought all the colours that japan has to europe and NA then it would sell LOADS. lavender, pink, silver, deep red, green, mint green and a clear one.

[decapitator]

Tell me something guys, what is worse ?

Fanboys arguing amongst themselves or Clueless wannabe journalist writing idiotic articles like this to show they know something when in fact they dont know jack sh!t about whats planned and what is coming ?

I'd pick fanboys b!tching because at least they know what console their allegiance is to and why they are supporting it.

Article like this is here is whats driving N4G's reputation down. This site ins't talked about in other in a good manner anymore.

[BLuKhaos]

No lie a few months ago I saw a couple of gangsters playing Ds.I rarely see anyone playing a Ds here in New York City apart from some little kid in the subway,I see more people playing PSP.

[Silogon]

It's been killing in sales all over the world for the last year, man. What is this junk?

[lodossrage]

that's what it is lol

[LaChance]

you guys say the 360 is dead because the PS3 outsells it by 20 000 a week.

So according to N4G logic the PSP is MORE THAN DEAD (DS way ahead worlwide)

I dont see why your theories cant apply to the PSP too.

@lodossrage : sorry man , I wasnt responding to your comment , just hit "reply" like that.Wasnt talking about you.

[lodossrage]

What I SAID was that it will end up in third place when all is said and done. You NEVER saw ME say it was dead

[Whoooop]

PSP is dead. 360 is also dead... At least he came to his senses...

:)

[Voiceofreason]

For the last year? I think not... Its selling better but its not the best selling portable for the past year. Its selling good in Japan right now. Maybe you are confusing a couple of months with a full 12 of them.

[PS360WII]

It's a decent handheld device but it isn't looked at as a gaming handheld to the majority that use it. Nothing wrong with that at all as you can see the hardware sells and sells well.

[tojfs7931]

I use my PSP as mainly a media device. the fact that it plays games is an added perk.

[eagle21]

Japan seems to be doing the same thing these days. I loved the GBA, but the DS was pretty stale to me. And I bought all the "hot" games to know.. The best game by far is Mario Kart DS. PSP has better games (way better scores).

[silent h3ro]

I sold my PSP because there are barely any games coming out for it in the future. Ubisoft, for example, no longer supports the PSP. Also many multi-platform games are going/ went to the DS and the consoles but not the PSP (CoD 4, The Hulk, Guitar Hero, Assassin's Creed and so on). I think the PSP is great but it needs to focus on it's games. My biggest gripe with the DS is all of the kiddie games that it has in it's library. I like the more mature PSP library. The PSP needs more support but for most game developers, the money is with the DS.

[GriffinQ]

So...you only base your opinions on how good a game is on it's score? That's pretty sad

[BubblesDAVERAGE]

It's a great device but the games are so easy to steal..so sony needs to fix that if they want it alive another 2 years

[user858621]

Kingdom Hearts has to yet release and some idiots sayin is it the end of the psp?? lmao hahahahahaha

[Pain]

Its crap and These Sony Hatters are FULL OF IT!.

How about this Story!? "Is it Game Over For XBOX 360?????"...... oh thats right u getting $$$ from M$ yea u will never right one of those eh...

Sony FUD'ers can blowAClown.

[Wildarmsjecht]

I'm sorry..If selling millions and millions of units, outselling EVERYTHING on the market in Japan this whole year so far is an indication of failure, I'd suspect that success is only that which a God can achieve. The PSP already succeeded in taking away the Portable Market from Nintendo. The huge surge in sales and consumer interest that doesn't seem to be dying down anytime soon will only push it closer and closer to the DS. Will it pass it before a new DS or PSP comes out? Most likely not, but it'll be a hell of a lot closer than anyone has ever gotten, and will have Nintendo really trying to push things further next time around. With the way things are, next hand-held battle will have people deciding heavily on which to get, instead of mass DS mania.

[PS360WII]

how did the PSP take away the portable market from Nintendo in Japan when the DS has 20 million units ALONE in Japan?

[Wildarmsjecht]

I didn't say it took the market away from Nintendo in Japan. I said it's outsold everything so far this year in Japan. Meaning, every month or week we get numbers from Japan Hardware sales since 2008 began, PSP was on top. But overall, world wide, yes PSP took market away from Nintendo. Remember when the GBA came out with it's SP variant? What about before then with GBC, and deluxe and pocket and all that. what tried to battle it? Game gear. How did that fair? Not so well. PSP has been holding its own, taking away a predominatly Nintendo platform, and making a name for itself throughout the world. Understand me now?

[PS360WII]

ah ha I got ya now ^.- my bad.

As far as hardware yes it is doing very well but you have to admit it is being seen more as a device for things other than UMD based games which should be the first thing it's known for as a gaming device. At least it's found it's market though so I wouldn't be suprised if the next PSP is a phone.

[Wildarmsjecht]

No biggie,

Im sorry if my first post was abit unclear. Yea the software side of things isn;t doing so well, but hey, if developers can bring out titles like Monster Hunter, then Software would be sky high like it is for the DS. I imagine however, that next time around, more developers are going to be bringing over the games they would normally for the DS to the PSP2 and have a fair share of both casual and hardcore titles for both platforms.

[PS360WII]

yeah it really does need a hearty mix of light on the go stuff and sit down and play type games.

It's kind of funny both have those type of games in plenty it's just DS is more known for the light on the go and the PSP is more known for sit down and play. What can you do though least I'm sitting back and playing both ;)

[syanara]

did I just witness kindness in the console war LMFAO I'm sorry its just hard to come by what you two just did in the console war kudos to both of you lol

BTW
I agree the psp is doing great in Japan and its begining to get more popular in the states belive it or not I think that what this article should be aimed towards is if the PSP can rise against the competition but its competition could be the iphone soon. like was stated before if the psp 2 turns out to be a phone I wouldn't be surprised. there is already talk of the psp phone going into production.

[MANCREEP]

The PSP took out the DS in World Wide sales?
This is a good example of needing to researching your hardware sales before you make such a statement. So instead of trying to insult you and talk trash about PSP(cause I own both and I like my PSP), I'm just gonna ask you to do a little research. The truth might come as a shock to you. I'll give you a hint as to what you might find: The PSP is not leading the DS at all in Hardware OR software sales---not in 2008 or 2007(not even worldwide). The PSP is not the leader in hardware sales in Japan---and even if it was, what makes you think its catching up to the DS? Is japan alone fueling the portable gaming industry? The answer to these questions and more can be found at:
WWW.WOWOMG.COM

[Wildarmsjecht]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

No.

I'm going by sales released for this year alone. It's been a steady trend that PSP has been outselling all platforms in Japan every month FOR THIS YEAR. Christ, how much clearer can I make that?

What's that saying? It's saying that if this trend continues, PSP will continue to raise its sales, which brings me back to the main point. It's a success for what it's done. Read the statements before trying to act smart. It's a fact.

[ChrisGTR1]

dosent the lack of game sales have anything to do with its failure? i mean, thats why the pc is dieng and all. on psp every new firmware literally gets cracked within 24 hours. piracy kills consoles, and thats what i think he means

[Dacapn]

What a stupid article. The PSP is doing just fine. I've never been into handhelds, but owning a PS3 has made me wanna pick up a PSP simply cuz of the compatibility...and the games seem a hell of a lot better than the portable wii aka. the DS.

[BattleAxe]

I bought a PSP 3 months ago along with about 10 games. Its a fantastic little unit.

[silent h3ro]

The DS is very different from the Wii. Are you kidding me?

[KingKirchner]

so in 3 years, it's sold more than the Xbox or Gamecube did their whole life, and it continues to sell very well and dominate the Japaneese charts, all while being the first handheld ever to put a dent in Nintendo's stranglehold on the handheld market, and that's a faliur?

[Fragking28]

hey turd handhelds usually sell better than consoles

[highdro]

psp is not dead,...here the ds is has more sells but that doesnot mean sony is going to do what dreamcast did to the psp,..what a bunch of bs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[djtek184]

This article is a failure.

[Vojkan]

This article is like looking at diarrhea. You know how it looks and what to expect, but you still give it a look, and go "o yeah that is nasty"

[Max Power]

to farts you know its smells bad but you have sniff it once, oh and there is also sweaty balls once you scratch those things you have to smell your fingers.

[pwnsause]

compare the the game gear, Neo-geo poket, and other sh**y handhelds back in the day and compare it to the sales of the PSP, failure my A**. the reason why the PSP doesnt have the incredible sales of the DS is because of pricing and the mediocre games that the developers come out with, not to mention a video format thats dead, but theres a replacement for that, its called an online video store.

[pwnsause]

hey xbot/DS fanatic, thanks for the disagree.

[Condoleezza Rice]

The reason the PsP has been O-U-T-S-E-L-L-I-N-G the Ds,Wii,Ps3,Ps2,and Xbox 360 in Japan,and selling VERY WELL in NA and EU,is because it's Game Over for the PsP....
.
.
.
.
.
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Wait,something doesn't add up...

[PS360WII]

you know what doesn't add up? Games.

[KingKirchner]

You forgot to mention it's the "SONY" PSP. It insta-fails just like the PS3 amirite???

(/sarcasm)

[Marceles]

Yeah...I gotta admit that Sony's game collections for the PSP and PS3 have been kind of topsy turvy. They're kinda running back and forth to concentrate on each system one at a time instead of equally producing games for each console. But game over? Give me a break...the PSP is seriously the best handheld ever. I can understand it being intimidating because it can do many things other than playing games and the games might not be as casual as DS games, but the system is just a powerhouse and the price they want for it is an easy steal.

[RememberThe357]

Agreed. The PSP has done something no one has done before. Compete with Nintendo's handheld. Sega tried, they failed. Sony is the only company to make it work. I think that in itself is is remarkable.The point that I want to make is that software is sorely lacking on the system, quality software. The developers ceep trying to put console games on the PSP and it just doesn't feel right. Sony needs to let the developers know what they are trying to do with the PSP so that the devs can compliment that.

[Bill Gates]

Yeah it's so "Game Over" that it's kicking ass in JP.

Stupid.

[zapass]

it's not even funny...
let's see... what am I missing here?

why spamming us with dorks who have their head up their ASS and want to blog about it...?

yes, we know, there are many jealous losers on planet earth and blogging can get you laid but... is it worth an n4g submission?
i don't think so buddy ;)

EDIT:
or... is it a competition for the biggest ridicule in gaming punditry?
the same day we have sales numbers with PSP beating everything else including DS: C'MON!

[AllseeingEye]

on the market they would be saying..DS is champ and psp is in second place followed by whatever. It would be a different story. PSP is picking up steam as well. I think the DS fans are coming out of the woodwork. I like both systems but my psp (which i have owned since launch) gets most of my attention. I am a bit of a graphics w***e though. I sometimes turn off good DS games just because the graphics are a**.

[skynidas]

?????

[kewlkat007]

I think it's the lack of specific games for it..I just do not see the same dedication to it as there is for he consoles. For the NDS well that's a different story.

Yeah it can do this and that and all that jazz but it always comes down to GAMES.

Ok besides the piracy and Dark Alex. even though I have a PSP, I'm just not that excited for it. Or waiting for a game or something like the consoles.

It will not Die but just be around. Like MAC and windows.

I have this Question as well: What is the majority of Handheld fans like to play hardcore games during trips? Casual or Hardcore fans..

I feel like, people like simple games on the Go, and the NDS with it's stylist, seems like, you just can't beat it. Make the PSP a touch screen and you open other capabilities or potential for new Devs. Not just the Hardcore PS2 game making ones, which has been cooking up rehashes, spin-offs and remakes.

[PS360WII]

My word for so many non-handheld gamers out here you guys take offense to this way to literally. PSP the hardware is selling but gamewise you have to admit it isn't selling.

Just because it's Sony does not mean it's the greatest thing ever and just because it's Sony does no mean it's not the greatest thing ever.

It is what it is which seems to be now more a a device used for music, movies, homebrew, and other while side steping the UMD based games.

[TheDeadMetalhead]

But only one has 2 GTAs on it.
Although, only one has Metroid Prime Hunters and Mario Kart DS, too.

But I have both, so it really doesn't matter to me. But I do think the DS is a tiny bit better.

[Max Power]

only one has movies. granted not a great selection but there is a selection.

[SpikeSpiegel]

So only time will tell. Piracy hurts the PSP but isnt there a problem with piracy on the DS as well?

[Dir_en_grey]

Just have Capcom release Monster Hunter 2nd G here in the states.
And actually put some advertising into it.

What kind of a girly man would not enjoy slaying dragons and skinning them for your own armors and weapons.

The primal instinct is running in each and everyone of our veins.
We are MEN, we HUNT!!

[TheDeadMetalhead]

HUNT!!!!

[juuken]

What da hell?!

The PSP is the best handheld system ever created by Sony. Hellllllo, God of War anyone? Said to be one of the best looking games on the PSP? Final Fantasy also says hello as well.

This article is made of pure fail.

Wow, and the force is quite strong with the disagreers here. They're mindlessly hitting disagree buttons from left to right!

[Dark General]

The PsP is doing damned good at selling while going head to head with Nintendo, the company who basically founded the market for handheld games. Like the article said it's crazy to think the PsP can beat nintendo at their own game it just has to sell good to be successful. Business is about making money.

[titntin]

Erm - this has to be one of the maost retarded articles I've read.

The PSP has been a completly unexpected sucess - its consistantly the top selling machine in Japan every week, and shifts tons of units in the west too.

Until the PSP came along, Nintendo completeey and utterly owned hand held gaming and nobody gave anyone else a chance of ever selling a competitive device. Whilst Nintendo still has a huge slice of that pie, the PSP, starting from nothing, has taken a huge slice of it despite the critics continually slagging it. We have two in our household - one for me and one for my wife, and the DS's simply don't get switched on...

[Whoooop]

I've never bought a single game for my PSP, because most of the games are like console games which would be cool to enjoy them with a big tv.

The only games I've played are Mario World, Contra, Dig & Spike Volleyball and Bust a Move (my favorite). IMO the PSP needs more games that are more suitable for a handheld.

I mainly use my PSP for music, pictures, internet and emulators(which I haven't use in a while).

Maybe I'm mistaken and there are some cool games besides the ones that do not belong in handhelds, but I don't see the PSP games as its strong point.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Both Ds and PSP are good if you ask me, neither are lacking in any way, Ds is a more casual one with still some hardcore games whiel PSP cateres to a more hardcore audience.

[Strife Lives]

The psp isnt dead,but it needs more I.PS from its big console brother.I knw one game that will cement it at number one. . .GRAN TURISMO PORTABLE! ! !yeah baby. i got custom firmware purely purely for Gran Turismo 2. And Dino Crisis2.play them both alot on it. But with GT, wow. . .Gt 4 graphics in a portable game.count me in !

[mistertwoturbo]

The problem isn't the lack of games on the system, it truely is the homebrew scene. Even if the PSP gets superbly excellent games, people just aren't buying them like they should. Look at God of War for example. One of the best games for the PSP, but didn't sell too much.

[Max Power]

hopefully that will change when playstation-edu takes some effect and students begin programing some sweet games for PSP and PS2

[mistertwoturbo]

I've said it and I'll say it again. Sony needs to send Solid Snake to assassinate Dark Alex. Or a soldier that's greater than the legendary Solid Snake. Chuck Norris.

[tatotiburon]

thanks to dark_alex the PSP is not dead

[Xiru]

One could look at this in two different ways:

A)Thanks to Dark_Alex many more people have bought a PSP for custom firmware.

B)Thanks to Dark_Alex many sales have been lost because with custom firmware you can play downloaded games.

[mistertwoturbo]

It's true to a certain extent, but look at the PSP's success in Japan. How many japanese gamers do you think actually bought a PSP for homebrew? It just takes a specific title to get it really launched. Even if Dark Alex never crafted the homebrew scene, Sony would have found a way to get people to buy a PSP.

If not now, then it's still nothing but a stepping stone to the PSP2.

[aliveinboston]

So how is it game over?

Having said that, I think they made some stupid mistakes in the design of the PSP. They went for performance over form factor and both the DS and Wii are proof that form factor trumps performance.

Of course, these mega-manufacturers don't listen to small guys like me but that's just the reality of it. Sony has a tech culture and so they always want to have bleeding edge products whether or not that's what consumers are willing and able to pay for.

Nintendo knows that the reason the GameCube failed was because it was bulky and stupidly colored. It was "vision" trumping reality.

Nintendo is now truly the Apple of the console world. Not leaders in hardware technoogy but certainly leaders in design and usability. Microsoft will never get it. Their decision making process is horribly flawed and their culture too ingrained to change. Sony could if they tried.

Actually, Sony is trying, but they are such a complex organization that it takes someone with iron cojones like Kutaragi to remold the product development pipeline. Sony's identity is bleeding edge technology and both the PSP and PS3 reflect this mindset. While both products have been successful in their markets, they have utterly failed to cater to the consumers who buy Nintendo. This is Sony's biggest challenge.

[mistertwoturbo]

Well you are right about many things my friend. However I will add in the fact that Nintendo's pricing is also what's helping they're success. Imagine a PS3 for $249 like a Wii. It will sell immensely. Imagine a PSP for $129.99 like a DS. People will buy it. Because it doesn't hurt their wallets.

[Voiceofreason]

If you want to make such a senseless comparison do it this way. Would PS3 be able to beat the Wii if, they both had the same graphical power and same price range. The answer is no.Wii captured the casual market this gen. Thats what won it for PS1 and PS2. Do you really think you are proving any kind of point by stating the obvious? If it had 1000.00 worth of stuff inside and was being sold for 200.00, of course its going to sale a ton.Thats like saying If Ferrari sold all their cars for the same price as a Kia people would buy them.

[heyheyhey]

errr... no

it's selling, the games are still coming as are the features (Skype! w00t)

PSP is far from dead, i just wish Sony wold take more advantage of the remote play feature it has with the PS3

for games i mean, like we should have been able to control the MG MK2 with the PSP

[Tunerboy8732]

Sony said there self the PSP has a 10 year lifespan and there asking this question in 08?I admit I lost interest in my Slim PSP as a "GAME" player,I mostly use mine for the internet since I get free wifi at my house,watch videos and play my mp3's but as far as games I havent bought a game for it since feb ive been too busy playing my 360.The PSP isnt going anywhere anytime soon.

[Irishrocket69]

I bought was MTX mototrax, and that was over six months ago! For $7.99 at Circuit City. I was a huge PSP fan, I was the first to buy one in the city that I lived in, with that said, all I use it for now is for playing the arcade classics, and GTA, and that is rarely ever! I would probably still use it if SONY (the geniuses that they are!) made it compatible to hook up to a T.V. like the newer models. It is also the reason I will not shell out the cash to up-grade. As far as Skype goes I have a cell phone and it can hold 4gs of music. Why do I need to carry a brick around to use it to talk to other PSP owners, who I only know of one. Yeah I will give it to them for making an advanced system, but at the end of the day its to big, the games are not that great.

[Xiru]

Piracy my friends, thats all it comes down to. Yes, there is piracy on the DS but the PSP is so much worse. I remember when God of War came out, it sold horrible. Someone had statistics for a torrent download site, and the ratio of downloaded illegally to bought at retail was like 4 to 1. It is just so easy to pirate games for the PSP. The Ds is a pain to pirate. I personally buy all my games, and don't pirate games just for the simple fact that I need to have the original case and manual for my collections. I also am a huge fan of Sony and want to help them out as much as possible.

The DS is very appealing to all markets. Just about every time i'm in Toysrus, I see a mom buying a game for her child for his/her DS. The DS section at my local TRU is about 3.5x the size of the psp section. I'm sure that helps sales as well. All we can hope for is the PSP 2 to have some better anti-piracy features. Then we will truly see competition for the DS in the handheld market.

[PoSTedUP]

PSp GPS for the win.

i would love God of War on the go : )

[killcycle]

THE DS OUT SELLS THE PSP??????
WTF!!
i have 4 psp fat and a ds lite and the ds is a peace of crap it dont have half the features the psp has!!!!
THERE ARE LIKE 10000+ THINGS THE PSP DOES THAT THE DS cANT!!
how the hell does this happen???
i mean the wii out sells the ps3 and the xbox yet i know not one persone that owns it?
The ds is a peace of crap and the psp sells Loads nearly everyone i know has one how can anyone call this a failure????
Proppably an xbox fan boy that cant come to terms with the fact that microsoft have no clue how to make a portable console that are any smaller then a DVD PLAYER xD

This is crazy **** lol

[bama]

If you use a PSP for multimedia wouldn't that make you a non-gamer? Have fun with your "LIKE 10000+ THINGS".

[heroman711]

game over for psp ?

not even close

[Rageanitus]

It's game over for BMW and Mercedes since Honda and Toyota are kicking their arses in market share.

... back on track...... Kudos for Nintendo for making a decent portable system (3rd time around), but there is no denying psp is standing strong especially for Sony's first portable system

[N4g_null]

It's game over for BMW and Mercedes when people start buying those cars for other purposes than driving them. LOL

Even people on this site admit they use it for emulation and looking at porn yeah looking at pictures my a$$ no I meant hers.

The same happened for sega doesn't the PSP handle held depend on software sales also? Maybe they are breaking even?

Either way it's a good gear and it's great to have I may have to pick one up to sit be side my dreamcast. Oh yeah DS home brew is way cooler any way.

[bama]

You don't deserve a Dreamcast. Go get an XBOX and play Halo 3 or some FPS with all your 12 year old friends. Leave the Dreamcast with real gamers.

[sk8dude]

giv me a break the ds wil never dominate the psp

[4D]

In every territory. The reason people are buying PSP's is because they can rip games to it easy, run homebrew, run emulators of NES SNES, Genesis, PC, etc... Look at PSP game sales. They suck in comparison to the amount of hardware sold. And more and more I am seeing DS's hacked. My friends nephew had a hacked DS with a cartridge that had 20 games loaded on it.

[Zhuk]

I dont know about PSP, but its game over for the PS3

[MANCREEP]

I'm serious.
I threw mine in the pool.
Swam like a dolphin.
I threw my 360 in the pool, it turned into bottle of acid.
Which may explain why I'm posting this....
I love salmon.

[PopEmUp]

Just stopped been an xbot, ven Mart love the PSP, why the F you hate Sony so much. Look like you're been brainwash by Microsoft

[PopEmUp]

Just stopped been an xbot, even Mart love the PSP, why the F you hate Sony so much. Look like you're been brainwash by Microsoft

[bama]

PSP is selling well, DS is selling well. Both have good games. Most handheld gamers own both. Whats the big problem here?

Good Games + Good Sales = Win for everyone?

[N4g_null]

So let me ask why do I not deserve a dreamcast? There are other gamers out there that are not sole MS , nintendo, or SONY fanboys. I'm just stating the obvious here.

"Whats the big problem here? " it seems to be the LALALALALALA effect.
It's piracy. That is a real problem but maybe not if this system does not need games sale to turn profits.

As for the real gamer comment nothing has ever be faker soundings what is a real gamer any way?

[Time_Is_On_My_Side]

Aesthetics

I honestly like how the PlayStation Portable (PSP) Iisdesigned but everything is subjectable. It's like complaining that someone touched your computer monitor leaving prints. Things happen like CDs, screens, or anything with a polish finish will leave prints. I've used my joy stick a lot and it hasn't got dirty so far.

Analog Stick

For the most part I agree with this and is interesting because the Sega Dreamcast had only one analog stick. No one seemed to be complaining yet at the same time first person shooters didn't really come out for it. The only games were Unreal Tournament and Quake III Arena, Half-Life got canceled. What saved it was the peripheral of a key board and mouse alternative and online "Dreamarena." So a second analog stick would've helped a lot instead of peripherals.

Advertising

I actually think Sony is more into billboard advertising because I hardly see Grand Theft Auto 4 adverts on the TV. Then you go on the public transportation and every gaming billboard is usually about Sony. Everyone Grand Theft Auto 4 advert has a PlayStation 3 logo on it. So they are advertising just that you'll have to go outside to really see it. Even the public transportation buses have God of War: Cains of Olympus all over it.

Game Library

The game library I think has to do more with history than level of quality. Like for example if I go up to my dad and say did you hear about the new Teken game for the Sony PSP? He would be like, "the new what?" If I said did you hear about the new Mario game for the Nintendo DS? He'll be like, "oh they're still making those I remember watching you play." Boom, the audience knows what they're getting into because of the reputation (rep).

It's like how Sony had individual accounts for every online game for the PlayStation 2. Now this generation they've changed everything but most people think it will suck like last generation. This is their history rep and the online market history rep is not as popular as XBOX Live. That isn't the same case this generation but it almost doesn't matter because of the history rep. It's kind of like being labaled as a criminal then coming back to the community that won't accept your past history.

Beat Nintendo at its Own Game

I personally think this is more on identity than actually beating Nintendo at its own game. Why I say this, what is Nintendo really known for? Nintendo is known for kid games and very little mature titles for the adults that play it. The problem with Sony is that they change their identity every generation leaving people wondering, is it even good. Like for example the online network for the PlayStation 3 is far better than last generation's yet it isn't considered the best online because of achievments. Achievments that you get rewarded for doing something you would already have done if it wasn't there. There are other variables but that one seems to come up a lot.

Now that Sony is in the hand held market they need to built a unique identity for themselves. In my opinion I think it's ok for Sony to be second this time around. So when hand helds like Pandora (console) will be competing with Sony PSP. In the end rep is everything in gaming and to change people's mind after having a bad rep will be difficult. Sony's rep in the hand held market will be technicial power and flexiblility with hardware.

Pandora (Console) HTML: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[Chubear]

Is this guy serious? The PSP has been growing steadily and seems set to keep climbing. How the hell can it be "over" when it's been the number 1 selling gaming unit in Japan for weeks? lol

[midgard229]

come on i cant wait for star ocean 1 and two, final fantasy dissidia and kingdom hearts birth by sleep, plus bunch more but im lazy lol

[fm81]

its dead coz it has sold only 34 millions worldwide while its competitor da nintendo ds has sold over 70 million unit worldwide..no matter if da psp was number 1 in japan last month, still worldwide sale of psp were far below da nintendo ds last month so nintendo was still on top..1 month at numero uno in japan doesnt make u catch da 70 million units nintendo have already sold..psp is dead..ok people..

[Wii60PS3DSPSP]

Maybe if they would stop porting over PSP games over to the PS2 then that probally would help it more. Seriously why get a PSP when you can get a PS2 with the same games just about, cheaper also. Though I bet Sony knows that PSP games flop so that's why they do it. Then again I do like $10 used PSP games... So flop more PSP software, oh and $5 movie umd's are nice also.

[Kassanova07]

Every valid point has been stated already. PSP is a technical marvel and is far from dead. 10 year cycle? You better believe it.

[3rik]

..but there are a few interesting titles on it (Patapon!), but nothing that really drives me to it. My friend has a psp and a ds. He mainly uses the PSP for music, movies, and crisis core. He usues his ds for most of his porta-gaming.

[pumpkinpunker]

or so say my asian friends with catridges hooked up to their DS's that hold up to 25 bootleg games. None of them buy games for their DS's.

[Clinton514]

because they're jacking all of their games and then claiming there are "no good ones".

The nonsense...

[bbelly9320_]

The PSP has been outselling the DS and all its competition in Japan for quite a long time now.

And with titles such as God of War and Crisis Core selling like hotcakes, I don't see how it can be considered a 'failure'.

[Bolts]

PSP is for teens and adults. Everyone knew that except for this moron. Most gamers wouldn't be caught dead playing a DS.

[Time_Is_On_My_Side]

I work as a subway janitor and all the full timers or most of them have a PlayStation Portable. These guys are in their late 40s early 50s some of them. It's like all they play they have have SOCOM battles on PlayStation 2, it's so interesting. They all think the DS is interesting but would never play it.

So I would say there is some truth to that, but at the same time in the general public people think all video games are for kids.

[GriffinQ]

How can you possibly say most gamers wouldnt be caught playing a DS, when it vastly outsells the PSP? That is quite literally one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. Just because you're insecure about your masculinity, and won't touch something that you think is gay/for kids, doesn't mean the 70 million other people who own DS' and don't have problems with that because of stupid stereotupe won't. Idiot

[Macho Man]

Let me tell ya somethin about the PSP. It's a little ahead of its time with superior graphics and powerful debigulators, it's like having your own portable Macho Man. BUT let me tell ya bout the DS, it's not a good contender, YEAH. It's going for the belt with the WEAK while the PSP sits alone. NOBODY WANTS TO WATCH THE STRONGEST BEAT DOWN ON THE WEAK and that's why, yeah, that's why the PSP is being ignored. OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH YEAAAAAAAAH!

[brianodom]

my whole u-13 soccer team that i coach, all have psps

[ReBurn]

I love my PSP. I wish it had more high-quality software. It has the ability to do more than just "portable" games, but that's all that developers seem to be making for it.

[Picnico]

I know that's it's human nature to pick out the things that we can criticise but, well OK, I'm going to do it:

"Despite owning only 32.3% of the overall sales margin of the current handheld war, Sony’s mini-Playstation is the highest grossing portable gaming system not manufactured by Nintendo."

They are essentially saying that they are surprised that a company with more than 32.3% hasn't overtaken the PSP, to put the PSP in third place. But there are no companies currently in the handheld market that could hope of reaching that figure. Even if the PSP only had about 20% of the market it still wouldn't be suprising that they were in second place, rather than third, when their competition is the NGage and suchlike. It seems a relatively respectable, though not massively impressive, figure against Nintendo in a handheld market that is traditionally thought to mostly, but not exclusively, be dominated by younger gamers.

[Mikey_Gee]

Each has its own place, but my PSP is FOR SURE not going anywhere. It is a FAR MORE VERSATILE device

I just wish they would stop charging crazy proprietary prices for things.

[dragunrising]

First the PSP is failing...then its doing great...then bad...then good...then bad...you get the picture. The way I look at it is that the PSP is doing just fine. It is selling hardware and more recently more software. "Soft" software sales are a sign of poor health; considering the PSP is selling more software with the likes of GOWCOO I think its doing just fine. Last spring a whole flood of "core" games were release. Patapon, GOW, FF, etc.. were the games that convinced me to buy a PSP. Once the hardware slows down (aka 360) a price cut is needed. Considering there are 30 million plus PSP's in the wild, the handheld should be looking up and not down.

[TripleTags]

This logic is simply laughable and devoid of any business AND historical context.

[cliffbo]

35 million PSPs is a market that plenty of devs will want to milk. with sales slowly climbing, how on this earth can you write an article that suggests it's game over? that is a FUD article written because (not in spite of) the growing success of the PSP.

[Chapulin]

The only thing I would love more on the PSP is built in memory at least 30 Gigs. To me it is the greatest hand held entertainment machine in the WORLD!!!!!!

[UltramanJ]

But it's been Game Over for software sales ever since piracy took over the system. Thanks Dark Alex!

[ack591]

Eventhough PSP is selling well, developers hesitate to invest on the system because piracy on PSP is just monstrous.

[GriffinQ]

Many of you seem to actually be READING the article, you seem to just be reading the title. Hawke lists multiple accomplishments of the PSP, but these accomplishments still don't measure up to the DS. And you're all saying that the PSP sells SOOO much more than the DS...Yet the DS still owns almost 70% of the handheld console market, and they both came out at about the same time(the DS everywhere in 04, the PSP at end of 04). Before you leave stupid comments that about how bad the article is, how about you read it first?

[Asurastrike]

The PSP has been the best selling console in Japan for months now.

Every week at my highschool we have 4 player bomberman, and Naruto tournaments.

[f789790]

Nothing is doomed. They are all fine.